4 Tips for Expats About Living in Playa del Carmen

As one of the world’s top tourism destinations and a favorite place for expats, living in Playa del Carmen is now a reality for a growing number of international arrivals who call this Mexican Caribbean beach town “home” either full or part time. Situated in the heart of the Riviera Maya, less than one hour from the Cancun International Airport, Playa has a chic, Old World international feel, with some of the best beaches in the world, modern infrastructure and world-class services and amenities.

Considering all this, it’s really not surprising that the real estate market in Playa is booming, offering would-be expats a variety of income producing investments and investment properties, such as luxury condos, vacation home rentals, beachfront villas and more! If you’re dreaming of living in Playa either full or part time, be sure to check out these four tips for getting the most out of your time in the Mexican Caribbean!

1. Embrace the Culture

Mexico’s entire Riviera Maya region is brimming with rich local culture and history, offering easy access to ancient Mayan ruins, friendly locals and much more! Despite the cosmopolitan vibe of downtown Playa del Carmen and 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida), this booming beach town still retains its original charm as a small Mexican fishing village and artist colony. Be sure to check out the many local entertainment options and delicious cuisine, as well as venture out to experience more of the area than what you will find behind the walls of any big-box resort.

2. Getting There is Easy

Thanks to the modern highway and Playa’s close proximity to both the Cancun International Airport and the Cozumel International Airport, getting here is a breeze! There are plenty of regularly scheduled flights from cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, South America, Australia, Russia and more! Transportation is easy to arrange from either airport and taking the ferry over to downtown Playa del Carmen from Cozumel island is always a fun adventure. Whether you ride a bus, book private transport or rent your own car, exploring the Mexican Caribbean is never boring and always offers plenty of opportunities for adventure!

For expats and visitors who don’t already speak Spanish, Playa del Carmen offers an ideal place to own a vacation home overseas because almost all residents speak enough English to get by and most are quite fluent. Of course, if learning to speak Spanish is something you’ve always wanted to do, Mexico’s Riviera Maya is also an excellent place to practice, especially if you travel to the smaller pueblos outside the metropolitan areas of town.

4. Explore

As you can probably imagine, Playa del Carmen offers countless options for exploring all that the Mexican Caribbean has to offer, with similar recreational options to what you can expect to find along the coastlines of Europe. This includes scuba diving, snorkeling, fly boarding, paddle boarding, deep sea fishing and more. Anglers can even take the day’s catch to certain local restaurants, where the chef is more than happy to prepare it and serve the freshest seafood imaginable. Catamaran and sunset cruises are also a fun way to see the Riviera Maya region, while the summertime offers up the unique opportunity to swim with massive whale sharks.

Have you ever thought about moving abroad or buying a vacation home in Mexico? Let us know in the comments below!